La Maison Corail

Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône

Description

Comfort, elegance and harmony are the main characteristics of this 18th century country house, which has been finely restored to enhance the natural balance between shape and materials as well as between thoughtful and harmonious uses of space.
La Maison Corail's long, pastel colored front stretches out lazily under hundred year old trees. Plane trees, linden trees and chestnut trees offer welcome shade to the large area in front of the house in hot weather. There are two side terraces at each end of the house, one facing east and the other west. They feature comfortable and practical living space under flowered pergolas, and lead through French doors to either the kitchen or the lounge area. Furnished with wrought iron tables, they offer the perfect setting for meals all day long, from breakfast time to afternoon tea and “ al fresco” dinners!

Provençal country homes, such as La Maison Corail, all have the same traditional layout in which living areas all lead into one another. These homes all have windows with painted shutters opening out onto a south facing terrace. At the center of the home you will find a rather large entrance with stairs leading up to the top floor. On this top floor are situated bedrooms, bathrooms and sometimes small sitting areas, libraries or boudoirs, which makes it so pleasant to linger about.

The encompassing park (almost nine acres) of La Maison Corail offers plenty of opportunity for lazy strolls through pine forests and olive groves. The large swimming pool provides a perfect escape from the heat of summer. For those seeking traditional French activities, there is a boules pitch available. And for convenience, a caretaker is on site but lives in a separate house.

Many activities, including shopping, horseback riding, golf, and dining are within an easy hour's drive.

The kitchen is divided into two distinct areas, one of which is dedicated to the preparation of meals and the other one is a casual dining room. They are separated by a wall with a Lacornue cooking stove with pretty colorful ceramics resting against one side of it and against the other, a large working fireplace. This fireplace can also be used as an indoor B.B.Q.
The dining area features a large wooden table and chairs as well as other antique pieces of furniture with a small TV on the wall in a corner. Two windows open up towards the front area and two French windows lead on to the east-facing terrace.
From the kitchen you can access the cellar with the freezer, microwave oven, and washing machine, and the guest cloakroom, which is in itself a small, pretty and warmly decorated sitting room

The dining room is a large room decorated in light shades and attractively furnished, its windows also open out onto the terrace that is in front of the maison and it features a large oval glass table to accommodate numerous guests (seating for 11/12). It features some beautiful fabrics and a nice mix of contemporary and chic country furniture.

The entrance constitutes the center of the house. You can get to it from the flat graveled area through French windows but also through the dining room and the sitting room. It is a large and spacious area. At the end, on the right hand side there is a two-part staircase with charming 18th century banisters. This staircase is pleasantly decorated with some interesting paintings and leads to the top floor. Under the staircase a hidden door which leads to the back kitchen, the kitchen and very cozy, guest cloak room.

Last but not least is the Sitting Room, which you can't help but appreciate as it is both frivolous and serious. The owners were seeking both beauty and comfort in designing this exceptionally large room in shades of white and beige. A Provencal chaise longue will enable any nap-taker to have a rest after lunch or between laps in the pool (which is only steps away). There is a large plasma screen TV, numerous armchairs, a deep sofa, a fireplace, tables, cushions, ornaments all contributing to create a harmonious, cozy and somewhat luxurious environment full of “joie de vivre”. The room opens out to the west-facing terrace through two large French windows framed by linen curtains, and also has windows looking out to the front of the house.

On the top floor, the bedrooms overlook the dazzling country scenery. There are five bedrooms on either side of a corridor running the length of the house to end in a boudoir/library featuring sofas in striped fabrics, which is situated close to the master bedroom, the junior suite and separate WC.
Three of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms (with showers).
Two other bedrooms share the same large bathroom decorated in pristine white and featuring a superb Venetian mirror.
The master bedroom (with air conditioning) is decorated in contemporary style but also features some nice period furniture. It is a well proportioned room, luminous (it has three windows) and comfortable. There is a double bed and en-suite shower room in tints of pearl grey with a large Provencal shower area in beige terracotta tiles, a metal towel warmer rail, WC and two wash basins. It leads to a mirrored dressing room with precious wood flooring. Light is provided through a large window with lovely views over an olive grove and also a through another small window opening and recessed spot lights. The children's bedroom is simply furnished with twin beds and a beautiful antique country wardrobe. A window overlooks the front of the house. The bedroom with a crystal chandelier also looks over the large trees to the front of the house but it has two windows. There is a double bed, a marble fireplace, Empire style furniture and flowered fabrics. These two bedrooms are next to one another and share the large all-white bathroom facing them. The guest bedroom walls are lined with toile de Jouy fabric in rosewood shades and it has two west facing windows with views over the swimming pool and the park. The double bed is fitted in an alcove and there is a small en-suite shower room reached through a glass door with a shower and hand basin. Along one of the walls there is an imposing glass fronted bookcase displaying several, no doubt well earned, trophies. Heavy curtains match the walls and there is a small TV set on the desk.

In one part of the house, away from the other bedrooms, there is a “junior suite” looking over the rear of the house with views over part of the park. There is a large space with a bedroom and a double bed, a country-style wardrobe and a small TV set on a table. Well separate from the sleeping area and reached through a corridor, there is a large and light shower room with a hand basin, and a comfortable shower cabinet. This bedroom offers nice views over the olive grove.

The garden, the esplanade at the front of the house, and the park are areas of restrained elegance. They are resolutely cared for in the same way as the house in a both dedicated and passionate way.

You will reach La Maison Corail by a small tree-lined country road along fields of crops that will lead you to a gate from which you can just see the eastern side of the home. Before you are allowed to grasp the whole Bastide itself you will first notice the perfect rows of tall box trees in Anduze terracotta pots and the few splashes of color made by the flowering Impatients at their feet. The terrace-like esplanade of the maison is bordered by a low wall and within its center is a small gate to a tree-lined small path, which constitutes the other possible access to the property. This low wall runs all the way to the swimming pool but stops at a gated doorway that restricts its access down a few steps. There is also an ornamental pond close by.

Total greenery surrounds the swimming pool with a thick hedge and cypress trees. A large lawn provides ample room for sunbathing and sports activities. Over the fence, the harmoniously laid out park with benches, chairs, tables and a pretty statue, ends up in a pine forest. Aix-en-Provence is truly a treasure of a town with its obvious charms. Certainly a must see on any visitor's list!

Price Calendar

Prices: Prices are per week and listed in US Dollars. Weekly Rental Saturday to Saturday.